Dakota Johnson criticizes Hollywood’s lack of originality and risk, voicing her frustration with studios’ growing reliance on remakes and decision-making by disconnected committees. The actress laid out her concerns about the state of the American film industry during recent interviews, expressing dissatisfaction with how business choices now stifle creativity and experimentation.
Johnson Calls Out Studios for Stifling Innovation
Throughout this year, Dakota Johnson has openly challenged Hollywood’s aversion to risk, describing the industry as disorganized and stymied by its compulsion for recycling past successes. Appearing on “Hot Ones” with Sean Evans on June 12, she argued that the increasing prevalence of decision-makers who lack a genuine passion for cinema is harming the industry.
“I think it’s hard when creative decisions are made by committee, and it’s hard when creative decisions are made by people who don’t even really watch movies or know anything about them. That tends to be what’s occurring a lot,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress.
She went on to highlight how the repetition of familiar material, rather than exploring original storytelling, is a direct result of executives’ focus on profit and safe investments.
“I think also, when something does well, studios want to keep that going, so they remake the same things. They want to feel new things, experience new things, see new things. So I don’t know, I guess it’s all just a bit of a mess right now, isn’t it?”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress.
Reflecting on the Struggles of “Madame Web”
Johnson’s recent career provides a striking example of her claims. In June, when discussing the disappointing performance of “Madame Web” during an interview with the Los Angeles Times, she asserted that the responsibility for the film’s failure did not fall on her shoulders. She connected this outcome to the problem of artistic control slipping away from artists.
“There’s this thing that happens now where a lot of creative decisions are made by committee. Or made by people who don’t have a creative bone in their body. And it’s really hard to make art that way. Or to make something entertaining that way.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress.
The actress revealed significant changes occurred during the production of “Madame Web,” which left her largely powerless to influence the direction it ultimately took.
“It started out as something and turned into something else. And I was just sort of along for the ride at that point. But that happens. Bigger budget movies fail all the time,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress. The film, part of Sony’s Spider-Man universe, starred Johnson as Cassandra Webb—a reluctant superhero—yet struggled critically and commercially, which she attributes to the impersonal, profit-driven studio process.
Stepping Away from Superhero Genre
The fallout from “Madame Web” affected Johnson’s career trajectory, as the movie not only performed poorly at the box office, but also earned her the Razzie for Worst Actress. The script and the movie itself were similarly panned, both taking home Razzie awards. As a result, Johnson was candid about her decision not to pursue similar roles in the future.
“I had never done anything like it before. I probably will never do anything like it again because I don’t make sense in that world. And I know that now,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress. She noted that the transformation of a project’s direction can be disheartening for artists:
“But sometimes in this industry, you sign on to something, and it’s one thing, and then as you’re making it, it becomes a completely different thing, and you’re like, ‘Wait, what?”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress.
“Madame Web” was released on Valentine’s Day, with Johnson portraying a character whose developing psychic abilities force her into the superhero world. Despite a promising premise, studio interference and shifting creative agendas contributed to its downfall.
Aiming for Creative Control as a Producer
Determined to foster meaningful change, Johnson has focused more effort on her work with TeaTime Pictures, her own production company. During her “Hot Ones” appearance, Evans questioned her about the challenges of producing, to which Johnson expressed her preference for being able to influence the creative direction of her projects.
“It’s hard to be on some jobs where I don’t have input, creative input.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress.
Previously, Johnson told Deadline that her motivation for producing stemmed from a desire for greater involvement and collaboration.
“I just wanted to be more involved, learn more and be more creative as well as be a part of the whole process of making a movie as opposed to just showing up on set and saying my lines,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actress. As a producer, she aims to guide projects from early development through completion, rather than simply executing another person’s vision.
Personal Life Changes: Split with Chris Martin
While Dakota Johnson asserts her voice in Hollywood, she also faces significant personal challenges. Recently, the “Materialists” star ended her long-term relationship with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The pair, who were together for nearly eight years, decided to go their separate ways after a period of reflection and recurring issues. An insider disclosed how the couple’s split was ultimately a gradual process:
“Breakups aren’t instant. They continued to break up and make up, and sometimes things would work when they were away from each other while working, because absence makes the heart grow fonder,”
—Insider, Source.
However, repeated attempts to reconcile could not overcome their differences.
“But when they got back together, the little things just kept adding up. They weren’t right for each other anymore,”
—Insider, Source. According to the same source, the hardest part for Johnson was not being present for Martin’s children, Apple and Moses, who had become an important part of her life during their relationship.
As Dakota Johnson navigates a rapidly changing industry and her evolving role as both actress and producer, she stands firm in her commitment to originality and artistic integrity. Her recent experiences highlight ongoing challenges within Hollywood, pushing her and others to advocate for more creative freedom and risk-taking in future projects. With her focus on authentic storytelling and active involvement in production, Johnson continues to call for bold ideas in an entertainment landscape shaped by committees and repetition.
